Very interesting discussion. I am leaning toward putting a bicolor light above the jib halyard block on the front of the mast, and a combination steaming/stern light set on top of the mast. The steaming light for motoring would face forward and the stern light, of course, aft. Both lights would be turned on for anchoring. The rules say the steaming light must be one meter above the red/green sidelights. It seems to me this bicolor installation would be possible on a fractional rigged boat, but obviously not on a mastheaded rigged boat. I quote from the "Annapolis Book" Boats smaller than 66 feet may carry sidelights on either side of the bow, in the shrouds, or in a single lantern at or near the top of the mast. I am using the single lantern near the top of the mast definition. However, I an not a Coast Guard officer. Perko has a dual lamp steaming/stern light but I do not know if this is legal to use as an anchor light. Model 1196. Boat US say it may be used as steaming or all-around light, so I assume this means anchor use too. Is that legal? Are there any other dual lamp fixtures out there? Maybe something that was actually designed to mount on top of a mast rather than a cabin? My reasoning for doing this is you have to have a light on top of the mast for anchoring, and I would rather have the wiring run only to the mast than to the bow and stern as well. I figure a bicolor lamp above the jib could be seen better than at the pulpit. Plus, there are lots of things that can tangle with or smash a light on the pulpit. I am also thinking of using a combination masthead/deck light and converting the masthead light to a bicolor side light. Aqua Signal has a Series 25 combination light (model 25404-7). I assume the red/green globe of the bicolor light would interchange with the white globe of this combination light. I figure the deck light would illuminate the jib nicely, if I am about to be run down. Anybody visiting a marine store that can verify this theory? (Do you need another excuse to go?) Can anyone point out potential problems for me? John Edwards mentioned the red over green all-around light on top of the mast. Annapolis says the red should be one meter above the green. Lights at the bow, stern and red over green on top of the mast would give the maximum visibility, but I am at a loss as to how to mount that top red lamp. Any ideas? Steve R. M-15 #119 Lexington, KY
As near as I can tell, my original M17 light set up is still legal. 1 Masthead / anchor light. All Around, white at the top of the mast. 1 White Stern light. 1 Bi-Color on the bow. When motoring, it's just the bow lights and stern light. When sailing, everything is on, and when at anchor, just the white light on top of the mast. Am I missing something? I ask, because my masthead / anchor light is out, and if I have to replace it, I might as well do it right. Howard
Howard, According to BoatU.S., the Inland Navigation Rules specify that when sailing, you need the bow bicolor and the stern white light. If you have a tricolor light at the top of the mast, that is all that is needed when under sail. When you turn the motor on, you need a white light at least one meter above the "sailing" lights shining 225 degrees forward. Anchor light should cover 360 degrees. Stan M-15 #177
Steve, A simple way to mount that mast head fixture is to use a standard mast bracket inverted over the halyard wheels that rise out of the top of the mast. It could be rivetted onto the mast. The hard part will be to find an aluminum mast bracket. All I've ever seen are stainless steel. Stainless steel and aluminum don't go together well. You might use aluminum brackets available at a Lowes or Home Depot type store. Although your mast is already a great lightening rod, your lead would facilitate the flow more directly to your terminal block, presumably inside your cabin. You might look at interupting that flow with some kind of safety device and directing any stray voltage over the side. We've recently experienced lightening strikes 10 miles away from the edge of a storm. Scarry stuff. Stan M-15, #177
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Howard A -
Stan Winarski -
Steve R.